30 Rock recap: Liz Lemon is not a crack whore, Jack’s not all-knowing, dancing and more!

Oh my crap, you guys – 30 Rock came back and I have a reason to live again! Thank God! I was nervous about this episode because of all the build-up. I mean, what if it wasn’t hilarious? What if I ended up being less turned on by Alec Baldwin now that he’s looking a bit thinner? Not true. There was enough Frank and Lutz meat to go around.

This week’s episode “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching” brought us right into 2012, with sweet Kenneth who has been convinced that the world is going to end tomorrow (today? Are we here?), but because his Pastor has warned him, he’s really thrilled about the coming rapture. Why is that? Because he’s going to get 72 virgin margaritas without salt! I mean, hell, I’d be excited for that too!

He compiles a list of his dream chores (which includes scraping a sticker off the ceiling) and starts working on them right away. Liz is unusually happy and provides Kenneth with an uplifting speech about living life to the fullest, and he continues on his journey. Pete, however, wants Kenneth to experience more important things like seeing the ocean for the first time.

Also, we get to see Kenneth in spandex leggings and light-up shoes, so what I’m saying here is that you can watch this episode with the mute on because it’s wildly erotic.

Jenna and Jack find awesome success in the new talent show Americas Kidz Got Singing where she is the Simon Cowell to John McEnroe’s Paula Abdul. Our old friend D’Fawn rounds out the three-judge panel. Jack suddenly finds himself in an emotional state after Jenna chews out a young singer named Liddy, which is his daughter’s name as well. He suddenly feels like making more money isn’t as important as being kind to children – something he hasn’t quite felt yet.

Though he ultimately lets Jenna be as cruel as she wants to save the show’s ratings and make money, it’s always good to see a little vulnerability in Jack. Mostly because I love a man in a suit who can also cry. And also, we got to see the Christmas card sent to Jack by Avery and Kim Jong-un which read “Death to U.S. Imperialist Wolves and Happy Hanukkah.” I’m still holding out hope that she comes home because I am in love with the love she and Jack share.

Meanwhile, Tracy is convinced something is wrong with Lemon because she’s being nice, won’t put up with his crap, and seems generally relaxed (see video below). He decides to follow her and find out what the hell is going on. After seeing her pick up mysterious medication from someone on the street near Penn Station, he goes to Jack to announce that he believes Liz is a crack whore. Obviously this is the only logical conclusion.

The entire episode, we’ve seen Jack tell Liz he knows everything there is to know about her, and she continues to remind him that he might not know about every aspect of her life. Jack signs her up for a website called Desperationship.com, and she refuses to go on a date with a man whose genitals have come to an unfortunate end. This implies no funny business. Yet, she is still uninterested. Very interesting. Tracy and Jack put some puzzle pieces together and find Liz doing what she loves: dancing. The scene where Liz’s routine is revealed is absolutely delicious, and I am glad I DVR’d the episode because I plan on watching it nonstop until the next episode airs.

Oh! But it’s not over yet! At the end of the episode, we see Liz embrace a mystery man. Of course, we at Laughspin (or anyone who saw the sneak peek) know it’s her new boyfriend played by James Marsen (queue drool sequence) and hopefully next week, we find out how they meet.

Overall, this was a lovely episode with a great arc and we got to see Frank, Lutz and Toofer dressed up as Santa, The Devil and Jesus. So – it’s a win!

Episode highlights:
• “Women’s hell … which is the same as aroused dog’s heaven” – Kenneth, telling Liz where she’s going after the world ends.
• Lutz trying to hold Frank’s hand at sunrise
• Reverend Gary referring to the washing of teens. A totally priceless throwaway line.
• “Next week Jay-Z was going to do a duet with one of the spinning chairs from The Voice, and the chair just pulled out!” —Jack on ruining America’s Kidz Got Singing
• The wardrobe of nice people, according to Tracy: Socks on your hands, no belt and roller skates
• “Reverend Gary says super gay horses are one of the signs of the apocalypse.” —Kenneth regarding the four flaming horses that Frank tells him are on the Plaza

About the Author

Meagan Kate

Meagan Kate is a Portland, Oregon writer and comic. She has been laughed at by audiences at The Brody Theater, The Someday Lounge, Theatre! Theater! and other venues that provide her with the validation she has yet to receive from a long-term relationship. She says things at http://myfacewasred.tumblr.com and you can follow her @MeaganKate.